UNDERTANDING CREATIVE

EXPERIENCES WITH YOUNG

CHILDREN
GED4093
MDM MONICA LEENA RAJARETNAM
M.Ed, B.A

e-mail :monica_leena@msu.edu.my

TOPIC 10
Dramatic Play and Puppetry

Objectives
define the goals of dramatic play
discuss the importance of dramatic
play to a young childs development
discuss appropriate ways to use
puppets in the early childhood
program

Goals of Dramatic Play

Physical: increase in strength,
overall fitness, motor skill
development, health;
Cognitive: increase in skills such as
problem solving, creative thinking,
planning, organizing, language, and
overall academic success;

Goals continued
Social and Emotional: enhanced
development of cooperation, sharing,
turn taking, less egocentrism,
increase in pro-social values and self
esteem, practice of appropriate
social roles.

Importance of Dramatic Play

excellent means for developing
creativity and imagination of young
children
need an interesting environment and
freedom to experiment
children are free to express their
inner feelings
teachers find out how children feel
about themselves and others by
listening to them

Beginnings of Dramatic Play

visible in children as young as 1 year
imitate the activity when given the
right prop
put a comb to their hair and pull it along
the side of their face
drinks from a cup, puts a hat on their
head, etc

these are examples of pre-pretend

play because it only involves the
actions that are known to the child

Beginnings of Dramatic Play

Cont.
actual dramatic play begins when a
child uses a prop for something other
than the activity for which he has
seen it used
usually happens when the child is
two years old

Development of Dramatic Play

simple imitative movements to
complex dramatic play
important for teachers to be good
observers and listeners
creative dramatics may begin with
one child, and others will join in
playing store, speaking on a toy
telephone

Development of Dramatic Play

Cont.
dramatic play is their way of
understanding and dealing with the
world
important medium for language
development
as play becomes more elaborate, the
childs language becomes more
complex
listen and respond to each other

Dramatic Play in the Home

(Housekeeping) Center
one of the best places to express
themselves
pretend to be many different roles in
society
provides endless opportunities for
the teacher to broaden the childrens
horizons

Dramatic Play in the Home

Cont
supplies should reflect the activities
in the classroom and extend the
skills being taught while introducing
new ones
emphasize a nonsexist approach
encourage both boys and girls
dramatic play
teacher should not be the leader

Dramatic Play in the Home

Cont
teacher observes and asks questions
encourages children to play by
providing props that extend the play
but do not change the theme
help children with their thinking by
making obvious statements about
their work that the child could
expand on

Dramatic Play in the Home Cont

modeling behavior - process of
imitating what has been observed
children use a variety of materials
from various parts of the room to
support their play

Suggestions for creating dramatic

play boxes for the classroom
Build around thematic units
Collect inexpensive play
materials
Designate a specific play area in
the classroom
Allow adequate time for play
experiences

Suggestions continued
Encourage children to be creative
with play themes
Add literacy/print experiences to
every play box
Add items to promote character
development and pro-social
behaviors

Commercially Available Kits

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Questions to assess your

dramatic play area at set-up
Does the play center incorporate a
variety of materials that will
encourage dramatic play of young
children?
Does the play center include
materials that will stimulate literacy
activities (reading, writing, speaking,
listening)?

Does the play center include teachermade as well as commercial

materials?
Are materials available that promote
creativity and flexibility of play?
Are the materials developmentally
appropriate for young children?

Are play props included which are

conducive to a thematic unit? Is
there a "theme" to your play center?
Does the play center reinforce
physical, cognitive, & social skills
appropriate for the grade level?

Questions to assess your

dramatic play area once in use
Are children actively involved in play
themes?
Do projects stem from natural
encounters with play materials?
Are children engaged in high levels
of social play, specifically cooperative
play?

Questions continued
Does the center area account for
various skill differences and
individual learning preferences?
Are children supporting in problem
solving activities?

Puppets
offer two ways to express creativity
creative experience of making the
puppet
making the puppet come to life

using puppets begins in the

preschool

Puppets continued
shy children may be more likely to
participate with puppets
great tool for teaching abstract
concepts
stimulating creative storytelling

Ideas for Using Puppets

puppet center (puppet materials,
props, theater)
specific puppet for each center area
felt boards and puppets
move puppets to the beat of music
to teach children rhythm and music
interpretation
social studies

Kinds of Puppets
Stick puppets
bag puppets
hand puppets (pg
524)
finger puppets
wooden spool
puppets
two-faced paper
plate puppets
play dough
puppets

Styrofoam ball
puppets
ping-pong puppets
sock puppet
glove finger
puppets
old mitten puppets
cardboard cylinder
puppet
people puppets

What is?
creative dramatics
dramatic play
modeling behavior

THE END